Archaeologia Aeliana Series 5

A consideration of the practical aspects of the Wall's construction and design, based on remaining archaeological evidence for the broad wall from Newcastle to the Irthing, and constrained by the practicalities of building techniques. The curtain wall, milecastle gateways, turrets, and roofs are considered, along with the possible coordination of manpower needed to operate a system of defence. The omission of forts from the original building scheme, coupled with the narrowing of the wall to as little as six feet in places may indicate a change in purpose and function. A case is made for the turrets being intended as primary accommodation, and for there having been towers with observation windows to both north and south. Also postulates the theory that the curtain wall builders arrived prior to the milecastles and turrets reaching full height. There are two appendices, `Appendix 1: the height of the wall' (46--9) and `Appendix 2: barrack accommodation' (49).

A report based on excavation work carried out as part of a larger project to investigate signalling on the Wall. The remains were not well preserved; however, the remaining structural dimensions and orientation were found to be consistent with those of a signal tower. Its apparently inferior siting when compared with Barcombe A may instead be seen in the context of fully operational Stanegate and Wall-fort systems. The low altitude would not necessarily have inhibited usefulness, as signals from Barcombe B would not have been visible north of the Wall.

Excavation in 1990 aimed to investigate the structure in advance of conservation work to prevent further decay of the fabric. Provides details of the development of this gateway from its construction as part of the Tudor defence work that replaced the medieval fortification of a continuously beleaguered border town. The defence works, from outer parapet, sentry walk and `screen wall', to the portcullis housing and internal parapet, are described. Also included are details of later modifications, and reports on other finds with `Ceramic and glass' by Margaret Ellison (108--15), including the pottery, tile, glass, clay tobacco pipes, and finally metal objects.

Charts schemes developed in the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries to link the Tyne and Solway by canal, the only actually realised section of which flowed from Carlisle to the Solway Firth.

Details of plates acquired by the Society during the nineteenth century, mostly derived from books of interest to members.

Isolates a variant of the D7 penannular brooch variety, found at several military sites in the north of England. Its presence is seen as being indicative of sub-Roman activity.

Following an earlier article declaring mould 1938.6 to have been involved in the production of fake 100 livres assignats and mould 1938.7 in the production of 250 livres assignats, correspondence with a European expert (Eckhard Prochaska) leads to revision of these conclusions.